PM Modi inaugurates Waves Summit, Celebrates global creativity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first World Audiovisual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. "Today, here in Mumbai, artists, investors and policy makers from over 100 countries have come together under one roof. In a way, the foundation of an eco-system of global talent and global creativity is being laid here today.

PM Modi further said, "World Audiovisual and Entertainment Summit i.e. Waves... It's not just an acronym. It's a wave of culture, of creativity. Waves is such a global platform, which belongs to every artist, every producer like you. Where every artist, every youth will connect with the creative world with a new plan. Today is May 1st. The first feature film Raja Harishchandra was released in India on May 3, 1913, 112 years ago, its producer was Dadasaheb Phalke ji and yesterday was his birth anniversary. In the last century, Indian cinema has succeeded in taking India to every corner of the world. ''

He further said in his address, "Today at Waves, on this platform, we have remembered many stalwarts of Indian cinema through postage stamps. Over the years, I have met people from the gaming world, sometimes from the music world, filmmakers, sometimes with the faces shining on the screen. In these discussions, India's creativity, creative capacity and global cooperation often came up. From the Red Fort, I have spoken of 'Sabka Prayas'. Today, my belief has become stronger that your efforts will give new heights to the waves in the coming years. ''At the Waves Summit 2025, PM Narendra Modi also launched a commemorative postage stamp on 5 legendary personalities of Indian cinema: Guru Dutt, P. Bhanumathi, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, and Salil Chowdhury.